The improved technology for quieting submarines has placed a renewed interest in the use of active sonar in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). This increases the need for training ASW operators in the effective use of active sonar, particularly in the classification of an active sonar contact as either a target (submarine) or a non-target (e.g., a sea mount or a school of fish). Current trainers using synthetically generated contacts do not provide the realism needed for classification training. Operators have very little chance to practice using actual acoustic contacts.

This paper describes two demonstration models of a trainer using recorded acoustic contacts for active sonar classification training. The demonstration models were developed by Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin (ARL:UT), under the sponsorship of the Naval Training Systems Center (NTSC). The first is DEC MicroVAX based and is compatible with the hardware available in the Passive Acoustic Analysis Trainers (Devices 21H14 and 14E40). The second is personnel computer (PC) based and provides a much less expensive implementation. Both models provide the CRT display and the audio signal available in the operational sonar. The result is a trainer that provides the realism needed for classification training. The low cost of these units should make them applicable to the full spectrum of operator training, from classroom training to on-board refresher training.